Read Japanese Today

Rating:
Summary: White Guy Traveling in Japan - Great Book!
Review: This is a really fun and engaging book because it reads almost like story. I read it while I was in Japan (having no previous background in the language, and having never been there) and found the book extremely helpful getting around! After reading the book I was able to understand quite a bit of written Japanese, particularly signs and other travel related messages. My traveling buddies were completely astounded as I squinted at these Japanese signs and other scrolling information, thought about it for a few moments, and then confidently pointed, "It's THAT WAY!" They couldn't believe it! Even _I_ was impressed! This book is amazing!

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Summary: Excellent beginner book for learning to recognize Kanji!
Review: When I moved to Japan last year, I was confused and I found it very difficult getting around. I tried taking classes, but they didn't help me in the Kanji department. Then I found this book, and ever since, I have become fascinated with studying the Japanese written form. It found that it explained each kanji's etymological source in language that the average person could understand. It is comparable to "An Idiots Guide to Japanese". It does not teach you to write japanese, but even so, I thouroughly reccommend this book.

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Summary: the place to start
Review: You know how karate starts with learning the body positions and basic moves before you ever step into a ring? The idea is to get you moving in the proper ways first. What this book does is introduce you to the idea of word-symbols being made up of radicals for "water", "clean", etc. and the mental pathway by which they are combined with others to get "desalination plant". Mr. Walsh does a great job of covering the fuzzy logic that lets one symbol mean 2 or 3 things with similar interpretations, which is something you just have to resign yourself to in Japanese language and culture. Start with this book, THEN move on to one that covers the kanji in a more everyday-life book.